Cotton gathering machine



May 23, 1933. D RUST 1,910,307

u COTTON GATHERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l i filza# f INVENTOR ATTO R N EY May 23, 1933- J. D. RUST COTTON GATHERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R EY May 23, 1933. 1 D RUST 1,910,307

COTTON GATHERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY May 23, 1933. J. D, RUST 1,910,307

COTTON .GATHERING MACHINE Fi1ed.Jan. 27, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 4 il!! I .1 ,Wa QR bm y Z/ v R V/// INVENTOR ATTORNEY NR V MX 11: y A my May 23, 1933- J. D. RUST `OTTON GATHERING' MACHINE .Filed Jan. 27. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .W .NNN

ATTOR N EY Patented May 23, 1933 JOHN DANIEL RUST, oF

WEATHERFORD, TEXAS COTTON GATHERING MACHINE Application ledJ'anilax-y 27, 1928. Serial No. 249,943. R E I S S U E D The present invention relates to cotton picking machines and objects of the invention are to improve and render more efficient machines of this character and to provide a novel organization whereby the above objects may be attained.

Further objects are to provide travelling rotatable spindles and simple and effective mechanismwhereby the said spindles may be rotated in one direction for picking the cotton from the bolls and in the reverse direction for delivering the same to a receptacle.: v Still'further objects are to guide thevcot- 15 ton stalk to the picking mechanism and to prevent its being bent or broken off: before it can be efectively acted upon by the said picking mechanism.

A still further object is to provide novel and effective means for driving the mecha?,l

nism of the machine. j v

A further .and important object of the invention is to provide for the presentation ofA the picking spindles to the picking position in a slightly moistened condition.

Very important objects are to provide novel', effective and simple means for arranging the spindles whereby they will come in'contact with Jall of the bolls of a cotton plant andalso for stripping the cotton` from the spindles and delivering the `same in the delivery of the cotton also showing the mechanism for stripping the cotton from the spindles.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the front part of Figure l showing the spindles 55 in relation to the moistening apparatus; Figures 4 and 5 are both fragmentary views and are on enlarged scales as compared with Figures l, 2 and 3.

.Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary .view 60 tated 'will invariably wind.` the cotton about itself and the machine is constructedin accordance with the yfollowingl specification and has'been built to effectively'utilize this fact. In order to construct a machine that '75 may be effective for the above purpose and to carry out the objects-set forth in the precedingparagraphs, I have constructed a machine comprising'a carrying frame in the nature of a 'truck upon which is` mounted a B0 frame that may be adjusted up and down same to .suction means for carrying the cotupon the carrying frame ofthe truck. This ton to a proper container.

A vfurther objectI of the invention is to provide a machine which will.I aceomplish in a'thorough manner all the picking from one side of the row of cotton. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine 40 with parts omitted for the sake of clearer i illustration.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine showing the same in relation to cotton rows. A l Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine. l .Y

Figure 4 isla transverse sectional view through Figure 1 showing the means for rotating thepicking spindles in the picking operation and means for rotating the latter frame may be known as the picking frame or unit and carries thereon an endless belt having spindles projecting therefrom in B5 a lateral direction with respect to the frame,

i -the endless belt being rotatable and so arranged that the spindles in the rotation thereof will be brought in contact with a moistening device before being presented in condition for picking cotton from the cotton stalks. suitable guiding means for the cotton stalk and the frame carries also effective means for vstripping thecotton from the spindle.

- The forward end of the picking frame is provided with endless belts or chains which effectively guide the cotton stalks into pickino' contact with the picking spindles.

lith this brief statement of the nature 10 i The endless belt is supplemented by numerals, the same numerals designating the same parts in all views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 designates the mainl frame of the carrying truck which is mounted upon a bull wheel 11 and a small wheel l2 suitably 4journaled thereto as at 13 and 14. A tongue 15 is provided 'which is conconected to the main `frame and suitable brace members 16 connect the main frame with the tongue.` Suitable guide brackets 17 are provided on the main frame for guiding the supplemental frame or picking unit 18 in its vertical adjustment relative to the main frame.

Mounted upon the supplemental frame are roller chains 19 which are spaced apart vertically and lie respectively adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the supplemental frame or picking unit. The roller chains have secured thereto vertically extending slats 20 preferably of wood and as my pres-- ent embodiment is constructed, I have found maple to be the best material for this purpose. The roller chains are provided witn sprocket links which receive therethrough the sprockets or sprocket wheels 21 respectively at the forward and rear end of the supplemental frame, the sprockets beingl mounted on shafts 22 extending vertically of the supplemental frame and suitably journaled therein for supporting the `roller chains uponr the supplemental frame.

Extending laterally with respect to Vthe supplemental frame are a plurality of spindles 23, said spindles being journaled in the slats 20 as clearly shown in Figure 4, there being a plurality ofy spindles projecting from each slat arranged in spaced ver-- tical rows thereon, one row to each slat, said spindles being provided at one end thereof with toothed wheels 24 for a will presently appear.

The rollers 25 on the roller chain`-19 contact with suitable tracks 26 permanently mounted upon the supplemental frame, said tracks being slightly arched outward on the picking side but lying in a flat vertical plane on the delivery side of the 'machine as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The roller chains are driven intheir revolution about the shafts 22 by means of a shaft 27 extending transversely of the supplemental frame and having miter gear connection with one purpose which ofthe shafts 22 as shown at 28, the shaft 27 being driven by the bull wheel 11 through sprocket wheels 29 and 30 respectively on the shaft 31 of the bull wheel 'and shaft 27 described above about which `is trained the sprocket chain 49. The sprocket 30 is mounted for rotation relative to the shaft 27-and is effectively connected with the said shaft 27 for rotating the same through a clutch 32.

The roller chains are held taut upon the sprockets 21 by means of spring controlled slidin bars 33 in which the forward shaft 22 is ]ournaled. The springs for the bars 33 are indicated by the reference numeral 34 and have their respective ends secured to the frame and lugs 35 which extend from the sliding bars 33 as suggested in Figure. 1 of the drawings.

The supplemental frame as stated above is mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the main frame of the carrying truck in guideways 17, said supplemental frame being suspended fronr the main trame b v means of cables 36 and37 which are attached at one end to winding drums 3S mounted on a shaft 39 which is journaled transversely of the main frame as at 4l).

The cables 36 extend rearwardly from the main frame and are trained about pulleys 41 suitablyjournaled on the said main frame between brackets 42, the rearwardly extending ends of said cables being 'connected to a cross member 43 which as shown is an angle bar constituting a part of the supplemental frame. The cables 37 are similarly connected to a cross member 44 of similar shape arranged at the forward end of the supple- 'mental frame.' A lever 45 is provided on the shaft 39 and this lever lnay he moved to its forward posltion as shown 1n- Figure 3 to rest upon a notched upright 46 secured to ing lip 47 formed onA an upright 48.4 It

will be understood that when the lever is moved to this latter position the drums 3S Will be'rotated for raising the supplemental frame t0 an inoperative position. The machine is raised to this position when it is travelling from one field to another.

The forward end of the supplemental frame is provided with a cutaway portion forming an opening 50 of considerable width into which the stalks of'a row of eottonplants will pass in their progress to- Ward a tunnel, the opening 50 constituting the mouth of this tunnel and it is defined by a sheet iron shield 51 which extends rearwardly from the mouth 50 and the spaced guard bars 74. The shield 51 providing one side of the tunnel while the guard bars form fthe other side thereof. These guard bars 7 4 extend the entire length of the frame, as shown in Figure 14 and have their rear ends bent and fastened to therear part of the frame, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The bars are spaced in a vertical plane so that the spindles will pass between theln. These bars act to separate the cotton stalks from the spindles and prevent them from being carried around to the opposite side of the frame. Thebars -also act to prevent green bolls from being pulled from the plants.- As will be seen from Figure 1, the outer ends of the spindles at the front end of the pickingside'pass between the bars and as the spindles are carried rearwardly,

they will project a greater distance beyond.

the bars until the bars contact the slats,'as shown in Figure 4, or practically so. Then the spindles gradually leave the bars as they move rearwardly toward the rear end of the device.

The sheet metal shield is extended rearwardly to a point where it is disposed in close proximity with the free ends of the spindles and is thencebowed laterally in an outward direction in a manner to conform to the shape of the adjacent portion of the tracks 26, and as shown at 51a, the picking space extending from a point as designated by the numeral 52 to a point 53 arranged rearwardly thereof at which point the shield is again bowed laterally in an outward direction as shown at 54. The spindles in their travel through the tunnel and until they leave the plants are continuously rotated for a purpose which will be apparent. The means and manner of and for causing this rotation will be presently described.

Endless chains 55 and 56 are located at the bottom of the supplemental frameor picking unit arranged to converge from points adjacent the' end of the mouth or opening 50 to points on either side of the shield 51 where the same contacts with the picking spindle, these chains being rotatably trained about suitable sprockets. The chain 55 is trained about the sprockets 57, 58, 59 and 60` and chain 56 about sprockets 61, 62, and 63 said latter chain also passing around the idler 64.

rlghe sprockets 59 and` 62 are respectively secured to shafts 65 and 66 suitably journaled to the supplemental frame, the bearings ofthe shaft being shown atv 67 and 68. The mouth 5() of the tunnel is defined by a suitable frame 69 whichv slopes forwardly down from the top to ,the bottom of the supplemental frame. The purpose of these endless chains is to guide the cotton stalks rearwardly intothe tunnel and to prevent the same from being broken or otherwise mangled by the passing of the machine along the rows and to present the vstalks n proper position forl the picking spindles to efectively operate thereupon. 'As the roller chains 19 are' rotated, the toothed wheels 24 of the various spindles are brought successively 4into cooperation with racks 7() arranged on the wall 71 coinnecting the tracks 26. This wall 71extends entirely around the path/traveled by the spindle carrying' means and forms an inner shell or backing for the inner ends of the spindles and the toothed wheels carried thereby, as shown in Figure 4. This wall prevents the spindles from moving inwardly through the holes in the slats.

Wall 71 which carries the racks 70 is de-v flected or` curved outwardly approximately on the arc of a circle. The structure com- 70 prising the wall 71 and racks being rigid, and therefore not displaceable laterally, the series of spindles will have a well defined position and can not move inwardly to varying degrees, as would be the case if a non- 75 rigid structure were under consideration. Cotton wound on the spindles is not accidentally loosened at or near the ends of the spindles.

The racks are provided with apertures 72 which receive the teeth 73 of the wheels 24 whereby as the roller chains revolve the spindles are caused to rotate in one direction.

As has` been stated above, there are a number of these spindles -to each slatfarranged one above the other and in the pres- Y* ent arrangement, there are some 1700 spindles in a picking unit although it will be readily understood that this number may be varied as may be found desirable or convenient. Vith so large a number of spindles, it will readilybe seen that few if any of the cotton bollswill escape contact with one of them in the passing of the spindles through the foliage of the plants.

The previously moistened spindles being given a rotary movement as they pass through the cotton stalks will effect the adherence of the liber thereto and will wind it completely thereupon, the spindles having been previously moistened asindicated above and by a device which will presently be described.

The cotton is now securely wound about l the spindles and the 'problem is now to dis- J105 l engage it therefrom. As the spindles pass around the other side of the machine which may bevreferred to for convenience as the delivery side as opposed to the picking side,

`the projecting ends of the spindles pass into a compartment designated as a whole at 76, wherev the spindles of each level pass through a plurality of compartments defined by the side walls 77 'of the supplemental frame and walls 78 extending horizontally therefrom. 115 The ends of thewalls 78 toward the track for the roller chains 19 are provided with flanges 79. The compartments'deined by these walls are progressively narrower toward the forward end of the machine and- 120.*

the flanges 79 thereofserve to guide travelling steel ribbons 80 which are designed to contact snugly with the spindles both from 4below and above as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

As thespindles and the ribbons travel through these compartments, it will be seen that the tendency of the coaction therebetween will be to strip `the cotton from the spindles and in order to facilitate this there 13 is provided adjacent the entrance of these compartments a plurality of racks 81 reversely disposed from the position'of the racks previously described and adapted for this reason to rotate the spindles in a direction opposite from that which the spindles were first rotated in winding cotton on the spindles. This rotation in an opposite direction will tend to unwind the cotton to a certain degree leaving it loose on the spindles and in a condition that it may readily be stripped therefrom by the action of thel steel ribbons as above described.

The location of t-hese racks 81 is at a point designated by the muneral 32 on Figure 1 of the drawings and are about six inches in length or a length to cause about four revolutions of each spindle. 'Ihe ribbons S0 travel around both sides of the picking device and rest on the picking side against the slats until the turn at` the rear end of the machine has been completely made. The travel is then diagonally outward in .conformity with the compartment as 'above described, this travel being insured by a roller on the shaft S3, the upper end of which is provided with sprocket wheel Sl. After passing around the roller on 'the shaft 83, the ribbons pass around an idler 85 and thence int-o contact with the slats between the horizontal rows of spindles. f

At the` forward end thereof, the compartments defined by the walls 77 and 78 and fianges`79 are connected with a suction de-y vice designated at 86 by which the cotton is drawn from the compartments and blown through a'pige 87 into a receiver S8 in the nature of a. sack or bag which is arranged transversely of the machine resting upon the frame thereof. This sack when filled lnay be removed from the end of the. pipe 87 and another bag substituted therefor.

In their travel in the path as described above, the spindles pass between moisteniug units 89 which may be in the nature of Sponges or layers of felt arranged in spaced relation to each other,-the spaces being in the horizontal planes of travel of the spindles. Each layer maybe provided with a tube 90 extending horizontally therethrough and provided with a plurality ofapert-ures` 91 to allow the escape of fluid into the layers of felt or sponge` the inner ends of the tube 90 are closed and the opposite ends are connected with a main supply pipe 92 which in turn is fed through a fiexible tube 93 leading from the tank 91 mounted on the main frame. The flexible tube may be in the nature. of a rubber hose and is provided, in order to permit of the vertical adjustment of the supplemental frame the tank beingx mounted on the main frame of the truck.

As previously stated, the'endless belt comprising the roller chains and slats with the spindles mounted thereon is revolved through a connection with the bull wheel 11 through the sprocket chain 49, the shaft 27 and the rear shaft 22. The forward sprocket wheel 21 on the forward shaft 22 affords a drive for the mechanism of the fan of the suction device 86 through .the shaft 95 extending vcrtically of the supplemental frame and 'suitably journaled thereto, the upper end of said shaft 95 being provided with a sprocket wheel 96 about which is vtrained a sprocket chai-11 97, this sprocket chain being also trained about the sprocket 21 of the forward shaft 22 and about the sprocket 84 of shaft 83 extending from thence around sprocket 59a. on shaft 55 then surrounding on shaft 66- around the sprocket 21 and the idler 99. l y

1t will thus be seen that the sprocket chain 97 drives the fan mechanism 86, the steel ribbons 80, the sprocket chains 55 and 56, the movement of the chains 55 and 56 being rearwardly on the adjacent reaches and at a speed substantially the same as a forward movement of the truck. Similarly the ribbons 80-are revolved at about this same speed.

It lwill be observed also that as the machine moves forward'that thesprocket chain 49 will revolve in amanti-clockwise direction and through shafts 27 and 22 the endless belt comprising the roller chains 19 and spindle carrying slats 20 together with the ribbons S0 will be revolved in an anti-clockwise direction, whereby the spindles effec` tive for picking will be moving rearwardly with respect to the machine' as the machine moves forward and the drive chain 97 is so trained about sprockets 84, 59a and 62a that the ribbons 80 will be revolved anti-clock- 'wise and the chains 55 will be revolved in an the idler 98 and then surrounds sprocket 62a l anti-clockwise and chain-'56 will be revolved in a clockwise direction. By this arrangement, it will be seenthat the converging adl jacent reaches of these chains will move rearwardly together at the same rate of travel effectively guiding the stalks of cotton s rearwardly in the tunnel.

The reference numeralllOl designates the cotton-rows and the plants are designated by the numeral 102. The rows and plants are shown and described to clearly bring out the arrangement of the machine with respect thereto when in operation, and it will be `noted that the spindles pick laterally of the -as at 104. The arm 103 braces the said frame structions andthe like.y

and holds the same in substantially parallel relation with respect to the shaft of the bull wheel, and Lmakes it unnecessary to remove the chain 49 when the supplemental frame is raised. v

. Briefly to capitulate with regard to the operation which, it is believed, however, will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, as the machine is passed along the rows of cotton, the tongue 15 will be--kept over the row to be picked with the bull wheel riding in the trench on one side thereof and the small wheel 12 in a trench spaced there from. The cotton stalks of this row will pass into the mouth 50 of the tunnel and will 'be guided rearwardly b the rchains 55 and 56 into the tunnel as escribed above where the steel plate 51 will press the stalks between the spindles 23 which have been previously moistened by passing, between the moistening devices 89. The racks will cause the spindles to rotate and due to the moisture on the spindles, the liber in the cotton bolls will adhere thereto and will be wound about the spindles.

By employing the great number of spindles arrange-d as shown and descrlbed, as many as four spindles may operate upon a single boll, so that all of the cotton will be completely removed from the cotton pod.

The spindles in their travel are so timed that they will pass rearwardly at the same rate that the machine passes forwardly and this timed relation also applies to the chains 56 and 57. By this arrangement, it will be understood that no material damage to the stalks will occur. j

As the machine passes forward and when 4 the spindles have finished their work, the

spindles will pass out of the stalk carrying the liber therewith, and will pass around the shaft 22 into the delivery compartment. At the beginning ofl this compartment, the spindles will bek given rotation in the opposite direction by means of the racks 81 loosening the same upon the spindles and the ribbons 8O travelling with the spindles and passing diagonally through the compartments defined by the walls 77, 78 and 79 will gradually strip the -ber from the spindles de! livering the same at the forward end of the compartments to the end of the suction device 86 which will'suck the fiber from the compartments and blowit into a receiver 88. Rotation of the blower or suction device be-raised by means of the lever 45 out .ofY

its operative position, so as to be out lof danger of being damaged by contacting ob- The spindles 23 arel made from. the best powered by suitable tractors thus providing self-propelled two-row pickers.

It is thought from the #foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the cpnstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. A `cotton picking machine having a. picking side and a stripping side, and comprising a longitudinally movable endless member having surface portions facing laterally, a track for said member, arranged longitudinally of the machine, means for imparting movement to the member, a plurality of 'rows of spindles carried by the endless member, said track being outwardly bowed at the picking side of the machine and substantially flat at the stripping side thereof, spaced longitudinally extending bars at the picking side between which the spindles pass, a shield carried by the picking side of the machine and forming with the bars a longitudinally extending passage for receiving the plants as the machine travels along, an intermediate portion of the shield being bowed outwardly to conform tothe bowed part of the track, means for rotating the spindles as they pass throughs the passage, means forrotating the spindles in an opposite direction at the stripping side of the machine and stripping means at the stripping side of the machine.

2. .A cotton pickin machine having pick- -ingand strippmg si es, comprising a vertically adjustable frame, upper and lower cntinuous tracks thereon, said tracks being of elongated form-and extending longitudinally o the frame, endless members traveling over said `Itracks, vertically arranged slats connected at their ends to the endless members, a plurality of spindles passing through the slats, a wall forming member connected with the tracks and aroundv which the slats travel, racks carriedby those `parts rof the wall forming member which are loczated on the pickingsde of the machine and on certain parts of said member which are on the stripping side, toothed wheels on the'inner v ends of the spindles engaging the racks during the'travel of the spindle carrying means,

means for imparting movement to the endless members and stripping means engaging the spindles on the stripping side-of the machine.

3. In a cotton picking machine, an endless traveling member movable in a predetermined path longitudinallykof the machine, means for imparting movement to the endless member,a plurality of rows of spindles carried by said endless member, means including a fixed vertical wall extending on a given side of the machine, and devices' trolling means on the side walls, said framealso having curved verticalendfportions connecting the side walls,` 011e side wall being curved so that any segment thereof corresponds substantially with other segmental portions of this wall, a plurality of spindles, and means for mounting the spindles for movement around said ends and along said side walls,

5. In acot-ton picking machine, a frame including a longitudinally extending spin- (lle-contacting and retaining structure including longitudinal members thereon, said structure also presenting vertical spaced walls having fixed position at the `sides thereof, one of the side walls including 'a portion curved so that any segment thereof corresponds substantially with other portions of this wall, a plurality of spindles, and means for mounting the spindles by said members for movement on the walls of the longitudinal element.

l 6. In a cotton/picking machine, a frame,

.a longitudinally extending element carried thereby and presenting a. plurality of spacedA vertical side walls,having fixed position one wall being deflected outwardly from vthe longitudinal axis of said .element in, an elongated arc-like curve,vthe end portions of the side walls approaching each other, a. plurality -of spindles, andftraveling means for mounting the spindles, one side wall including means engaging said spindles and determining the relative angular position of the spindlesat different" stages of their movement along paths defined by the mounting means.

, 7. In a. cotton picking machine, afplurality of spindles, traveling means for` mounting the spindles in longitudinally extending rows, horizontally extending web elements.

positioned in` parallel relation with reference to the rows, and a .unitary element including means for rotating the spindles in- `cident to the movement of the traveling means, said unitary element including Van outwardly curved side and a flat side, the sides of the unitary element each constituting a structure including spindle engaging means determining the paths of travel of the spindles.

8. In stripping mechanism for the spinand the ribbons being responsive individually to the movement of the spindles of a single row, and guiding lneans for causing the ribbons to move in a direction transversely of their length, toward the outer ends of the spindles, for stripping the cot-v ton from said spindles.

9. A cotton picking machine having a picking side and stripping side, comprising 'an endless traveling member, an endless track for said member arranged longitudinally of .the machine, means for impart- ,ing movement to said endless member, a plurality of rows of spindles carried by said endless member, said track being outwardly bowed at the picking side of the machine and substantially Hat at the stripping side thereof, spaced longitudinally extending guide elements at the picking side between which the spindles pass, a shield carried by the picking side of the machine and forming with the guide element-s a longitudinally extending passage for receiving the plants as the machine travels along, means for rotating the spindles as they pass through the passage` and stripping means at the stripping side of the machin In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

JOHN DANIEL RUST. 

